Latest / Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast / The DiCecco Daily: Is Saquon Barkley Capable Of Another 2024 Type Of Season?

Transcript

The DiCecco Daily: Is Saquon Barkley Capable Of Another 2024 Type Of Season? · Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast

• 0:10
  Speaker 1: What's going on? Everyone.
• 0:11
  Speaker 2: Welcome into another episode of the Checko Daily Andrew de Checo,
• 0:15
  Speaker 2: Eagles beat reporter for insidethbirds dot Com quick podcast. Before
• 0:19
  Speaker 2: watching the Sixers and the Knicks for Game three, we'll
• 0:23
  Speaker 2: see what happens there. But I want to continue on
• 0:27
  Speaker 2: with our series where I'm going through each position group
• 0:31
  Speaker 2: and assessing it, breaking down every player and how they
• 0:35
  Speaker 2: fit into the twenty twenty six equation or if they
• 0:38
  Speaker 2: fit into the twenty twenty six equation. We went through
• 0:41
  Speaker 2: the quarterback room yesterday. Today we're going to focus on
• 0:44
  Speaker 2: the running back room, and the Eagles are a little
• 0:48
  Speaker 2: light in terms of the running backs on the roster
• 0:51
  Speaker 2: that they're taking the training camp, at least it feels
• 0:54
  Speaker 2: that way, but there are some certainties, and we'll start
• 0:58
  Speaker 2: at the top with running back Sa Kwon bark who
• 1:01
  Speaker 2: is a couple of seasons removed from a historic year.
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: I thought last season it wasn't as bad as maybe
• 1:11
  Speaker 2: what the numbers revealed. He was able to pick things
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: up later in the year. He needs to be more
• 1:16
  Speaker 2: patient with his running and the offensive line not playing
• 1:19
  Speaker 2: to their unusual standard due to injury was a big
• 1:23
  Speaker 2: reason why I think Saquon wasn't as effective.
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: Now.
• 1:25
  Speaker 2: Was he ever going to replicate the season that he
• 1:28
  Speaker 2: had the year prior where he rushed for over two
• 1:31
  Speaker 2: hundred two thousand yards.
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: No, that was never likely.
• 1:36
  Speaker 2: But I thought that there were opportunities earlier in the
• 1:38
  Speaker 2: season where he was pressing and not necessarily taking what
• 1:42
  Speaker 2: was in front of him.
• 1:43
  Speaker 1: But he got to the second level.
• 1:45
  Speaker 2: He ran hard, he had good vision, but there were
• 1:48
  Speaker 2: too many times at the line of scrimmage where I
• 1:50
  Speaker 2: thought he was trying to make too many things happen
• 1:52
  Speaker 2: on his own, maybe out of just trying to put
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: the offense on his back and make something happen.
• 1:57
  Speaker 1: But this is a player that I believe.
• 1:59
  Speaker 2: Still has a bit of quality football in front of him,
• 2:02
  Speaker 2: and I am curious to see whether this year under
• 2:05
  Speaker 2: Sean Mannion, the Eagles look to adopt a more of
• 2:09
  Speaker 2: a rotational approach to the backfield, because by and large,
• 2:13
  Speaker 2: it's been the Saquon Barkley show, with very little Tank
• 2:16
  Speaker 2: Bigsby mixed in and Will Shipley to that matter as well,
• 2:21
  Speaker 2: and I think this year you may see a little
• 2:24
  Speaker 2: bit more Tank Bigsby to preserve Saquon Barkley, make sure
• 2:29
  Speaker 2: that he's not racking up a lot more tread on
• 2:32
  Speaker 2: the tires, and I think he'll be better for it.
• 2:36
  Speaker 2: But the offense, at least the way that I'm viewing
• 2:38
  Speaker 2: it right now, is still going to run through Saquon Barkley.
• 2:41
  Speaker 2: I am expecting them to continue to lean into the
• 2:45
  Speaker 2: running approach and this new rushing attack, the new run designs.
• 2:50
  Speaker 2: I should say the schematically is really interesting to me
• 2:54
  Speaker 2: because Saquon Barkley traditionally isn't exactly Le'Veon Bell when it
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: comes to patience. But you get a full off season
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: learning the concepts of it and getting familiar and comfortable
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: with it. I do believe that he's the kind of
• 3:09
  Speaker 2: player that will respond favorably to it. I think he's
• 3:12
  Speaker 2: gonna have another really big season as long as he's
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: able to avoid injuries, which he has since he's been
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: in Philadelphia. That was more a thing that revealed itself
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: with the Giants. So I think the outlook for Saquon
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: Barkley going into twenty twenty six is very promising. Behind
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: Saquon you have Tank Bigsby, and Tank Bigsby I thought
• 3:33
  Speaker 2: was criminally underutilized last season relative to the success he
• 3:37
  Speaker 2: was having in his opportunities. Now he's an untraditional type
• 3:41
  Speaker 2: of runner, And what I mean by that is is
• 3:43
  Speaker 2: he doesn't necessarily follow his blocks. If there's nothing there,
• 3:47
  Speaker 2: he'll create his own hole. He'll seek out contact. He
• 3:51
  Speaker 2: invents space when there really isn't any. So he's fun
• 3:54
  Speaker 2: to watch, which you like when you like to see
• 3:58
  Speaker 2: if you're an Eagles fan, when the runs are productive,
• 4:01
  Speaker 2: but it also could yield some stops behind, a lot
• 4:05
  Speaker 2: of scrimmage, a loss of yards because of.
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: The nature that.
• 4:11
  Speaker 2: He adopts in terms of run style. So I look
• 4:14
  Speaker 2: at Tank Bigsby. He gives you some power, he gives
• 4:18
  Speaker 2: you a little bit of juice. Maybe not the home
• 4:20
  Speaker 2: run hitter that you'd hope he'd be, maybe not the
• 4:23
  Speaker 2: pass catcher that you'd hope from the number two running back,
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: but an ideal change of pace option that can give
• 4:29
  Speaker 2: you fresh legs. He hasn't had a lot of wear
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: and tear on his body, still young into his NFL career,
• 4:37
  Speaker 2: a player that has embraced Philadelphia, and I do believe
• 4:43
  Speaker 2: that maybe this new run designs that are expected under
• 4:47
  Speaker 2: seaw Maney and may not necessarily fit the bill for
• 4:52
  Speaker 2: the way that Tank Bigsby plays, but again you get
• 4:54
  Speaker 2: repetition with it in the spring and in training camp,
• 4:58
  Speaker 2: and maybe he responds well to it, but he is
• 5:01
  Speaker 2: a player that I do expect to get more than
• 5:03
  Speaker 2: the I believe fifty eight carries that he had last season.
• 5:06
  Speaker 2: He's entrenched as the number two running back, which brings
• 5:09
  Speaker 2: us to Will Shipley, who I thought was underutilized last season,
• 5:13
  Speaker 2: especially as a receiver in training camp, and I go
• 5:17
  Speaker 2: back to even years where DeAndre Swift caught a flurry
• 5:21
  Speaker 2: of passes Saquon Barkley as well, Will Shipley caught an
• 5:24
  Speaker 2: abundance of passes from Jayalen Hurts was routinely winning on
• 5:28
  Speaker 2: wheel routes in the summer, and then when you fast
• 5:31
  Speaker 2: forward to the regular season, that never was incorporated into
• 5:35
  Speaker 2: the offense, and that was a little curious. I am
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: expecting that to be not necessarily a focal point, but
• 5:42
  Speaker 2: another elements, another wrinkle that Sean Manning will bring to
• 5:45
  Speaker 2: add some optionality and be an extension of the run game.
• 5:49
  Speaker 2: It sounds all good and well, but until you see
• 5:51
  Speaker 2: it take shape on the field, it's hard to go
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: into it with the mindset of that that is going
• 5:56
  Speaker 2: to be something that you can expect, but Will Shipley
• 5:59
  Speaker 2: gives you that.
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: He gives you some juice.
• 6:01
  Speaker 2: And explosiveness in short area quickness, and he's a good
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: change of pace option to the other two players in
• 6:08
  Speaker 2: Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby. I actually think that this
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: new run, this new run scheme, the outside zone, the
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: stretch plays. I do believe that that almost caters to
• 6:23
  Speaker 2: what Will can do better versus the old style where
• 6:26
  Speaker 2: it was the inside zone and things like that.
• 6:28
  Speaker 1: Will is not the biggest guy in the world, doesn't.
• 6:30
  Speaker 2: Play with a lot of power, but he does have
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: good speed, good vision, and I always saw him as
• 6:39
  Speaker 2: a player that will take advantage of creases and wait
• 6:42
  Speaker 2: to hit that hit that hole with good acceleration.
• 6:45
  Speaker 1: So we'll see what happens there.
• 6:46
  Speaker 2: But if you're looking to add another wrinkle to the offense,
• 6:50
  Speaker 2: how about throwing the football through the running backs, namely
• 6:53
  Speaker 2: Will Shipley, who that is a strong suit.
• 6:58
  Speaker 1: That's what he brings to the table.
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: Not to even look past his special teams contributions where
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: he's a core special teamer.
• 7:04
  Speaker 1: I like him as a number three.
• 7:07
  Speaker 2: We'll see if that entails a more involved role in
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: the offense this year. But I think your top three
• 7:13
  Speaker 2: running backs are a pretty much etched in stone.
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: The other players you have.
• 7:18
  Speaker 2: Damian Pierce, who was a draft pick of the Houston
• 7:21
  Speaker 2: Texans some years ago. Still young, I think he's about
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: twenty six years old, was really productive earlier in his
• 7:28
  Speaker 2: career than injuries mounted, and he never was able to
• 7:32
  Speaker 2: revert back to the form that he was able that
• 7:38
  Speaker 2: he showcased early in his career at the Texans, And
• 7:42
  Speaker 2: it's kind of a big mystery there, but I think
• 7:44
  Speaker 2: injuries are a big reason why he wasn't able to
• 7:47
  Speaker 2: take the next step.
• 7:48
  Speaker 1: It's an intriguing signing for Philadelphia. I happen to believe
• 7:51
  Speaker 1: that his skill.
• 7:51
  Speaker 2: Set's a little redundant when you look at Saquon Barkley
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: and Tank Bigsby. He can return kicks, but so can
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: Will Shipley and Will Shipley and also play special teams.
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: So for the Eagles to keep four running backs, and
• 8:03
  Speaker 2: I understand they did that last year with AJ Dillon,
• 8:06
  Speaker 2: Damian Pierce would have to be special in the summer
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: and make it virtually impossible for the Eagles to part
• 8:12
  Speaker 2: with him. Because he's proved to be so valuable in
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: numerous facets of the game. I personally don't see that happening.
• 8:19
  Speaker 2: I don't know that the Eagles, based on roster construction,
• 8:22
  Speaker 2: could afford to keep four running backs. I view Damian
• 8:25
  Speaker 2: Pierce as an ideal fit on the practice squad. The
• 8:27
  Speaker 2: Eagles have carried running backs on the practice squad in
• 8:30
  Speaker 2: the past. Audric Estima namely comes to mind earlier in
• 8:34
  Speaker 2: last season, So they had Lou Nichols at one point.
• 8:38
  Speaker 2: So yeah, that's kind of what my outlook is for
• 8:41
  Speaker 2: Damian Pierce. Then you have Carson Steel.
• 8:44
  Speaker 3: Hey, Philly fans, game day is stressful enough. Parking, traffic,
• 8:48
  Speaker 3: long lines, We've all been there, But when it comes
• 8:51
  Speaker 3: to your cannabis, Camden Apothecary makes it easy. This is
• 8:55
  Speaker 3: the dispensary for sports fans, just minutes outside of Philly,
• 9:00
  Speaker 3: with plenty of free parking.
• 9:01
  Speaker 1: You'll be in and.
• 9:02
  Speaker 3: Out fast, no hassle, no waiting, and they don't just
• 9:05
  Speaker 3: care about convenience. Cam Den Apothecary is all about the
• 9:09
  Speaker 3: guest experience. Their staff makes sure you feel taken care
• 9:13
  Speaker 3: of every time you walk in. Plus they carry only
• 9:16
  Speaker 3: the best quality cannabis at the fairest prices, so whether
• 9:20
  Speaker 3: you're stocking up for the tailgate, the watch party, or
• 9:24
  Speaker 3: celebrating a big win, you know you're getting the good
• 9:27
  Speaker 3: stuff without overpaying. They even show love to the community
• 9:31
  Speaker 3: with specials for fans, students, service members, and healthcare pros.
• 9:36
  Speaker 3: Cam din Apothecary top quality cannabis, great prices, and an
• 9:40
  Speaker 3: experience made for Philly fans twenty one and up.
• 9:43
  Speaker 2: Who is a twenty twenty four rookie free agent of
• 9:47
  Speaker 2: the Kansas City Chiefs out of UCLA.
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: He made their roster.
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: He played in seventeen games, started three, had one hundred
• 9:54
  Speaker 2: and eighty three yards on the ground at the view
• 9:56
  Speaker 2: them Moore as a fullback at six foot two hundred
• 9:58
  Speaker 2: and twenty eight pounds. He was on the Chiefs practice
• 10:01
  Speaker 2: squad in twenty twenty five. Still a young player at
• 10:03
  Speaker 2: twenty three years old, and I'm still not certain that
• 10:07
  Speaker 2: the Eagles are even going to incorporate a fullback. We'll
• 10:10
  Speaker 2: learn more about that, but not resigning Ben Van Sumerin.
• 10:13
  Speaker 2: We'll see what their plans are for Cameron Latto. He's
• 10:16
  Speaker 2: listed on the website. The Eagles list him as a
• 10:19
  Speaker 2: tight end, so who knows. There's a lot to learn
• 10:23
  Speaker 2: about this offense, but I kind of view Carson Steele
• 10:27
  Speaker 2: more in the mold of a full back. But we'll
• 10:30
  Speaker 2: see if he's able to catch on and provide some
• 10:34
  Speaker 2: versatility as a running back and a fullback and perhaps
• 10:37
  Speaker 2: making him sort of indispensable, if you will. So he's
• 10:42
  Speaker 2: played some of the NFL, so there's appeal there. We'll
• 10:45
  Speaker 2: see if he can help on special teams. Maybe he's
• 10:48
  Speaker 2: a guy I mentioned Damian Pierce. Maybe Carson Steele is
• 10:50
  Speaker 2: the guy who fits the profile as a practice squad
• 10:54
  Speaker 2: running back that the Eagles want to work with and
• 10:56
  Speaker 2: continue to develop.
• 10:57
  Speaker 1: But that's your running back room right now.
• 10:59
  Speaker 2: No undrafted kies as in this running in this class
• 11:03
  Speaker 2: at running back, which is a little surprising, but if
• 11:06
  Speaker 2: you think back to last year, they had shun Derek
• 11:08
  Speaker 2: Powell undrafted free agent. They had Montreal Johnson Junior who
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: flashed a little bit. There's other players who I'm forgetting,
• 11:17
  Speaker 2: but it just felt like they had at least six
• 11:19
  Speaker 2: that they took the camp. But you have to feel
• 11:21
  Speaker 2: pretty good about the three that they have that are
• 11:24
  Speaker 2: almost I say almost because I'm including Shipley in this
• 11:27
  Speaker 2: almost etched in stone when it comes to solidifying their
• 11:31
  Speaker 2: place on the Eagles roster because they all have defined roles.
• 11:36
  Speaker 2: That's gonna do it for this episode of The Checko Daily,
• 11:38
  Speaker 2: Andrew Decheco, We'll catch you all on the next one.